BONE SPURS......HELP SOMEONE

I am new at this site and I have a problem. Maybe someone out there can help me out. I have been suffering from chronic neck pain at the base of my skull for 8 years. It is getting worse every day. I am currently on Neurontin and Baclofen for the pain. But I feel like I am running out of time. I had an xray and an mri and it showed I had bone spurs on my c2 and c3 and a bulging disc on my c5. I have seen several doctors regarding this and they all say they cannot help me. They tell me that everyone has bone spurs and they are not that bad. I am at the end of my rope.. without the meds I cannot function and suffer unbearably. Has any one out there ever heard of anything like this? I have had blood work done and I have been to 3 different chiropractors, accupuncture, massage therapy, tmj splints, and am now on pain management. But I cannot live the rest of my life on meds. I am 43 years old, a mother of 3 grown children and live in southeast NM. Please respond.

[tnt406]

HI WHAT TYPES OF DOCTORS HAVE YOU SEEN?BESIDES CHIROPRACTORS.HAVE YOU SEEN A BONE SPECIALIST?SOME ONE WHO JUST DEALS WITH BONE INJURIES?IF NOT THEY CAN ALL SO HELP YOU.I SHOULD KNOW,MY HUSBANDS DISC RUPTURED AND A ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON DID HIS SURGERY.IT WAS IN HIS LOWER BACK.SEEING A FAMILY PRACTIONER WILL NOT HELP,THEY ONLY GIVE YOU "MEDICINE".THEY DON'T FIX IT BECAUSE THEY CAN'T.TRY TO FIND AN ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON IN YOUR AREA AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.TAKE CARE OF YOUR SELF.TNT406

[JoAnnaRF]

I had microdiscectomy/laminectomy last year and now suffer from Failed back surgery, Stenosis, and severe arthritis of the spine. I have been through every treatment under the sun and nothing has worked. So now I am in Pain Management where I am told I will be for basically forever I guess. Living with the pain is not something I am willing to get used to and am constantly seeking answers and solutions with little positive outcome. I suggest that you continue to Dr. shop. You need one that is willing to find the answers. No everyone doesn't have bone spurs! Please! If everyone did then having them wouldn't be a "condition". Sounds like you are being blown off. So keep looking until you find "the doctor" for you. Oh and I also am a regualr on the messageboards at the Spine-Health forum where you will find people with simular problems that may have more ideas for you and can at least relate and don't mind listening to you vent your frustrations. It has been great therapy for me. The addy is  messageboard.spine-health.com  And just scroll down and go to the board that applies to you. There are several from lower back/leg pain, back surgery, neck pain, etc.. I really think you will find it helpful. Good luck!

[fresnoborn]

I HAVE SEEN A FAMILY DOCTOR, GYNECOLOGIST, PAIN MANAGEMENT, DENTIST, EAR, NOSE & THROAT DOCTOR, NEUROLOGIST, BONE DOCTOR, AND A NEUROSURGEN. BOTH THE BONE DOCTOR AND THE NEUROSURGEON TOLD ME THAT EVERYONE HAS BONE SPURS AND THEY SHOULDN'T BE CAUSING ME SUCH EXCRUTIATING PAIN. MY BLOOD WORK SHOWED RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS SO I WENT TO SEE A RHEUMATOID DOCTOR AND HE DID A PHYSICAL EXAM AND SAID I SHOWED NO RHEUMATOID FEATURES BUT I HAD AN XRAY DONE ON MY HIP FOR SIMILAR PAIN AND SOME SWELLING, AND THE RADIOLOGIST THAT READ IT SAID I HAD RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AND OSTEOPENIA. I AM GOING BACK TO THE RHEUMATOID DOCTOR NEXT WEEK TO SHOW HIM THE RADIOLOGIST REPORT AND THEN MAYBE HE WILL TREAT ME. ONE THING I DO KNOW IS THAT I DON'T EAT ANY DAIRY PRODUCTS CAUSE I JUST DON'T LIKE THEM BUT MAYBE IF I TAKE SOME GLUCOSAMINE CHOLODROIN(I GUESS THAT'S HOW YOU SPELL IT) WITH MSM MAYBE IT WILL HELP MY BONES. IT'S JUST HARD TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT I MAY HAVE TO LIVE WITH THIS FOR THE REST OF MY DAYS. MAYBE THE GLUCO(THAT STUFFS) WILL HELP ME. SOMEONE ALSO MENTIONED TO ME TO SEE ABOUT FOSOMAX. THANKS FOR ASKING. HAVE A NICE DAY

[fresnoborn]

I FORGET TO MENTION THAT THE RHEUMATOID DOCTOR SAID THAT MAYBE I WAS JUST CARRYING THE RHEUMATOID FACTOR  AND THAT'S WHY I TESTED POSITIVE FOR RA. BUT YET THE RADIOLOGIST SAID I HAD IT...????

[tnt406]

HI I'M SURE THEY HAVE DONE X-RAYS OF YOUR NECK.WHERE DO THE BONE SPURS SET?ARE THEY ON YOUR NERVE ENDINGS?DO YOU HAVE SWELLING AROUND YOUR NECK?WHAT STATE DO YOU LIEVE IN?DOCTORS SHOULDN'T BE THAT IGNORANT ON THERE PATIENTS SYMPTOMS ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE DEBILETATING THEM IN ANY WAY.DO YOU HAVE TROUBLE TURNING YOUR NECK?ARE THERE ANY BIG HOSPITALS IN YOUR AREA THAT HAVE SPECIALIST IN EVERY FIELD?MAYBE YOU COULD TRY TO SEE ONE OF THEM.IT MIGHT BE WORTH A TRY.YOU ALL SAID SOME THING ABOUT RHEUMATIOD ARTHRITIS,IT IS IN YOUR HIP.YOU ALL SO SAID YOU HAVE INFLAMMATION IN IT.I HOPE YOU FIND A DOCTOR THAT WILL TREAT YOU REAL SOON.TAKE CARE OF YOUR SELF.TNT406

[fresnoborn]

I HAVE SOME TROUBLE TURNING MY NECK, IT POPS AND GRINDS WHEN I DO. THE BONE SPURS ARE ON MY C2 AND C3, THAT'S WHAT THE XRAY SHOWED, AND A HERNIATED DISC ON MY C5. IT BOTHERS ME, ALOT. THE BACK OF MY NECK IS SOMEWHAT SWOLLEN AND THE MUSCLES AROUND IT ARE SPASMING ALL THE TIME AND CONSTANTLY TIGHT, EVEN IN MY SHOULDER AREA AND DOWN MY BACK. MY HIP XRAY SHOWED OSTEOPENIA AND RHEUMATOID ARTHIRITIS WITH SOME SPURRING ON MY FEMORAL HEAD SO I WENT TO SEE A RHEUMATOID DOCTOR AND HE SAID (AFTER A PHYSICAL EXAM) THAT I SHOWED NO SIGNS AND THAT MAYBE I JUST CARRIED THE GENE FACTOR BUT I WILL GO BACK AND SEE HIM AND SHOW HIM THE RADIOLOGY REPORT OF MY HIP. MY HIP BOTHERS ME ALOT BUT MY CHIEF COMPLAINT IS IN MY NECK. I HAVE STARTED TAKING GLUCOSAMINE CHONDROITIN & MSM FOR MY BONES, MAYBE IT WILL HELP. I HAVE TRIED PHYSICAL THERAPY, TWICE AND IT AGGRAVATED IT. I LIVE IN SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO AND THESE DOCTORS HERE HAVE BEEN NO HELP AT ALL SO, I WENT TO SEE A NEUROSURGEON IN LUBBOCK TX, AND HE SAID THAT THE BONE SPURS SHOULDN'T BE CAUSING ME SO MUCH TROUBLE AND THERE IS NOTHING HE CAN DO FOR ME. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT. HOW DOES HE KNOW WHETHER THEY SHOULD BOTHER ME OR NOT, EVERYBODY HAS A DIFFERENT PAIN TOLERANCE. ANYWAYS THANKS FOR ASKING. IT'S NICE TO HAVE PEOPLE TO TALK TO ABOUT THIS. I'M GLAD I FOUND THIS FORUM. HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY

[tnt406]

HI I AM GOING TO TRY AND LOCATE A DOCTOR FOR YOU THAT MAYBE,YOU HAVEN'T SEEN.THE HERNIATED DISC AND BONE SPURS SHOULD BE SENDING UP RED FLAGS,TO THE DOCTORS,INSTEAD OF IT'S NORMAL.IT IS NOT NORMAL TO HAVE BONE SPURS OR A HERNIATED DISC.YOUR ALL SO STARTING TO DEVELOP INFLAMMATION FROM THIS AND IT IS BEING CAUSED BY BOTH THE BONE SPURS AND HERNIATED DISC.WITH YOUR NECK FEELING TIGHT WHEN YOU TURN IT,IT SOUNDS LIKE YOUR DISC IS GOING TO RUPTURE.THATS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY HUSBAND.THE BOTTOM PART OF HIS BACK STARTED FEELING REAL TIGHT,IT RUPTURED TWO WEEKS LATER.HE WAS ALL SO IN PHYSICAL THERAPY,BUT PHYSICAL WASN'T HELPING.HE JUST TIED HIS SHOE AND IT RUPTURED.OUR FRIEND HAD A DISC TO RUPTURE IN HIS NECK,ALL HE DID WAS TURN HIS NECK.THAT IS WHY I AM SO CONCERNED FOR YOU.I KNOW I LIEVE FAR OFF,BUT I AM GOING TO TRY AND HELP YOU IN EVERY WAY I CAN.I'LL POST BACK IN LATER AND LET YOU KNOW WHAT I FIND O.K.TAKE CARE OF YOUR SELF UNTIL THEN.TNT406(BECKY)

[tnt406]

HI I'M BACK I DIDN'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE YOU LIEVED IN NEW MEXICO,BUT THESE ARE JUST SOME I FOUND I WILL ALL SO GIVE YOU THE WEB ADDRESS.HERE ARE A FEW:                             1.ALAN L. ALTMAN,MD PHONE [phone] ADDRESS  700 LAMAS  BLVD.,NE.ALBUQUERQUE,NM 87102.                              2.TERESA V.BALCCOMB PHONE [phone] ADDRESS  LOVE LACE MED CENTER 5400 GIBSON BLVD.SE ALBUQUERQUE NM 87108             3.RICHARD BALL MD PHONE [phone] ADDRESS 6100 PAN AMEICAN EAST FWY NE ALBUQUERQUE NM 87109                             4.ROBERT WARREN BENSON MD PHONE [phone] ADDRESS 7520 MONTGOMERY BOULEVARD NORTH EAST SUITE D-10 ALBUQUERQUE NM 87109                                                         5.DAVID A BERNSTEIN DO MD PHONE [phone] ADDRESS 415 CEDAR ST SE STE 125 ALBUQUERQUE NM 87106                              6.RICHARD N.CASTILLO MD NO PHONE NUMBER LISTED SORRY.ADDRESS 201 CEDAR ST SE STE 6600 ALBUQUERQUE NM 87106                   7.ALLEN R GELINA MD PHONE [phone] ADDRESS PRACTICE THOR ENTERPRISES INC. 801 ENCINO PL. NE. STE E9 ALBUQUERQUE NM 87102.I FOUND SEVEN FOR YOU I'M ALL SO GOING TO GIVE YOU THE WEB ADDRESS IT IS:HTTP://WWW.DOCTOR DIRECTORY.COM.IT IS A FREE SERVICE NO CHARGE.THESE ARE ORTHOPECIC DOCTORS.I WANT YOU TO DO MORE RESEARCH THOUGH AND KEEP FINDING MORE DOCTORS THAN JUST THESE O.K.I ALL SO WANT YOU TO START A JOURNAL AND TAKE IT WITH YOU TO YOUR APPOINTMENT.TELL HIM OR HER WHAT YOU CAN NOT DO BECAUSE OF YOUR NECK.LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU ARE IN PAIN AND THAT PHYSICAL THYERAPY DID NOT HELP BUT MADE IT WORST ON YOUR NECK NOT BETTER.DO YOU GET HEADACHES,NUMBNESS OR TINGLING SENSATIONS IN EITHER OF YOUR ARMS?IF YOU DO YOU NEED TO TELL THE DOCTOR.ALL SO HAVE YOU NOTICED MUSCLE LOSS IN YOUR ARMS SUCH AS STRENGTH WISE,DO YOU FIND IT DIFFICULT TO DO YOUR DAILY CHORES.LIFTING A IRON SKILLET IS THAT TO HEAVY?OR A POT OF WATER?ANY THING YOU CAN THINK OF THAT YOU CAN NOT DO NOW BECAUSE OF YOUR NECK?THE REASON WHY I AM ASKING IS BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU WRITE EVERY THING DOWN THAT CAN BENEFIT TO YOU AND YOUR NEXT DOCTOR TO WHERE MAYBE THIS ONE WILL LISTEN MORE,AND UNDERSTAND THE DEGREE OF SERIOUSNESS IT IS TO DO SOME THING FOR YOU.ALL SO DO RESEARCH ON BONE SPURS IN THE NECK AND SEE WHAT IT SAYS.AS I WILL DO THE SAME,OR TYPE IN HERNIATED DISC AND BONE SPURS AND THEN TREATMENT PLAN.MAYBE WE CAN GET SOME ANSWERS THAT WAY.YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR SELF AND DON'T BE DOING ANY THING YOU SHOUDN'T BE DOING O.K HON.I'LL TALK TO YOU TOMORROW.TNT406(BECKY)

[fresnoborn]

I HAVE WRITTEN DOWN THE NAMES OF THE DOCTORS YOU TOLD ME ABOUT. I'M A BIT AFRAID TO CALL THEM CAUSE HOW DO WE KNOW WHICH ONES ARE QUACKS AND WHICH ONES ARE LEGITIMATE? I DON'T MEAN TO BE NEGATIVE, I'M JUST SCARED. I HAVE TALKED TO A FEW PEOPLE AT THE PAIN MANAGEMENT CLINIC, AND SOME HAVE HORROR STORIES. I WANT SOMEONE WHO COMES WITH HIGH RECOMMENDATIONS. I DON'T KNOW ALBUQUERQUE, BUT I WOULD GO THERE IF I HAD TO. HERE IN ROSWELL, THERE IS A ORTHOPEDIC DOCTOR HERE THAT HAS A GOOD REP AND HE ONCE TOLD ME HE COULDN'T HELP ME. I HEARD LATER FROM ANOTHER DOCTOR THAT WHEN YOU ARE A MEDICAID/MEDICARE CLIENT THEY TURN YOU AWAY CAUSE THEY WANT TO CHARGE AN ENORMOUS FEE TO DO THE PROCEDURE AND MC/MD WILL ONLY PAY WHAT THEY FEEL THE SURGERY IS WORTH. TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH I'M SCARED OUT OF MY WITS. BUT MY NECK HAS BOTHERED ME FOR 8 YEARS AND IT'S GETTING WORSE. I TAKE NEURONTIN FOR THE PAIN AND A MUSCLE RELAXER BUT THEY KEEP HAVING TO BOOST UP THE NEURONTIN EVERY 4 MONTHS OR SO, AND I'M FIXING TO REACH THE MAXIMUM DOSAGE ALLOWED FOR A PERSON OF MY WEIGHT. I AM A SMALL FRAMED WOMEN (I USED TO WEIGH 180LBS ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, BUT WHEN I'M SUFFERING WITH MY NECK I REFUSE TO EAT) WHO WANTS TO EAT WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE YOU JUST WANNA DIE SO THE PAIN WILL GO AWAY) DON'T GET ME WRONG, I'M NOT GONNA GO AND DO ANYTHING STUPID, I'M JUST TELLING YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU TRYING TO HELP ME. I'M NOT EXAGGERATING. I'M A SEMI-SMART WOMEN WHO HAD A CAREER AS A LIBRARIAN BUT HAD TO QUIT BECAUSE OF MY CHRONIC PAIN AND IT WAS AFFECTING MY JOB PERFORMANCE SO INSTEAD OF WAITING TO BE DISMISSED, I RESIGNED. I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL 14 TIMES IN 1 YEAR ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO AND BECAUSE OF THAT I QUALIFIED FOR DISABILITY. SO NOW I GO TO SCHOOL MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY AND THE REST OF THE TIME, I REST, READ AND EAT SOME. THE NEURONTIN DOES HELP, WHEN IT WORKS. IT DOESN'T TAKE THE PAIN TOTALLY AWAY, I CAN STILL FEEL IT. AND YA I HAVE PAIN THAT GOES DOWN MY ARMS ALL THE WAY TO MY FINGERTIPS. MY ELBOWS HURT, MY SHOULDERS ACHE AND I EVEN SOMETIMES GET THIS QUICK CHILL. MY EYES ARE SWOLLEN, AND I HAVE DEVELOPED A LAZY EYE (IT MIGHT BE BECAUSE I CRY ALOT) I AM CURRENTLY ON AN ANTI-DEPRESSANT THAT HAS HELPED SOME AND I HAVE TO TAKE SEROQUEL TO SLEEP OR I WILL STAY UP AT NIGHT WITH THE PAIN. IT IS WORSE TOWARDS THE END OF THE DAY AND GREATER IN THE EVENINGS WHEN I LAY DOWN TO SLEEP SO I HAVE TO TAKE SOMETHING TO KNOCK ME OUT OR I WON'T REST AND THAT SEEMS TO AGGRAVATE IT MORE. I HAVE A TENZ UNIT THAT HELPS SOMEWHAT AND I USE A HEATING PAD EVERYNITE TO GO TO SLEEP. IT'S EITHER UNDER MY NECK OR ON MY HIP. SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE MY NECK IS EITHER PULLING ON MY HIP OR MY HIP IS PULLING ON MY NECK. THANKS BECKY FOR TRYING TO HELP ME I APPRECIATE IT. I TRULY AM AFRAID OF WHICH DOCTOR TO CALL ON. IS THERE SOMEWHERE I CAN CALL TO GET A REFERRAL TO A GREAT  DOCTOR THAT HAS SOME REFERENCES OR A GOOD REPUTATION OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT EXIST?

[tnt406]

HI HON TOLD YOU I WOULD DO SOME RESEARCH AND I DID.I GOT TWO DOCTORS NAMES YOU MIGHT ALL READY BE SEEING ONE OF THEM,OR MAYBE NOT I'LL HOPE FOR THE BEST LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE.I WILL GIVE YOU THE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF EACH ONE AND THERE PHONE.   1.JAMES J.CASTLE PHONE NUMBER 505-624-0100 ADDRESS 607 W.COUNTRY CLUB RD. ROSWELL NM.88201                             2.EARL LATIMER PHONE [phone]  ADDRESS PRACTICE ROSWELL BONE& JOINT CLINIC PC 115 E. 19th ST.ROSWELL NM. 88201.         I HOPE THESE TWO WILL HELP YOU IF YOU HAVEN'T ALL READY SEEN ONE OF THEM.YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO CALL YOUR LOCAL HOSPITAL AND GET A REFERALL FOR A GOOD ORTHOPEADIC SURGEON.ALL TRY OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES IN YOUR AREA,YOUR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT MAYBE,OR ASK FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO HELP YOU.THERE MIGHT ALL SO BE A LISTING IN YOUR PHONE BOOK FOR HELP ON FINDING A PHYSICIAN OR SURGEON.I WOULD CALL YOUR HOSPITAL FIRST,AND ASK FOR INFORMATION.BUT LIKE I'VE SIAD BEFORE IF PAIN BECOMES UNBEARABLE GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM,OR A BIGGER HOSPITAL.LET ME KNOW IF I CAN HELP YOU ANY MORE I WILL KEEP ON TRYING UNTIL,I FIND SOME THING FOR YOU,O.K. HON.TAKE CARE OF YOUR SELF REAL GOOD,AND KEEP YOUR NECK WARM.IN SISTERLY CHRISTIAN LOVE BECKY.GOD BLESS YOU FRESNOBORN.

[tnt406]

HI I'M SO SORRY I DIDN'T GET IN CONTACT WITH YOU ANY LAST WEEK,MY DADDY HAS BEEN IN BAD HEALTH,HE PASSED AWAY ON SATURDAY.HIS FUNERAL WAS TODAY.I WILL DO SOME MORE RESEARCH FOR FOR YOU.MY HUSBAND IS ON HIS DISABILITY ALL SO.BUT THEY STILL DID HIS SURGERY.THAT IS CONSIDERED RACISM WHAT THERE DOING.I LIEVE IN KENTUCKY.I KNOW AREA YOU LIEVE IN NOW I WILL DO MORE RESEARCH FOR YOU O.K HON.TAKE CARE OF YOUR SELF.TNT406[BECKY]

[jon434]

Hello this is my first time i have been on forum...i am 56 when i was 40 i  had two severely worn disc caused buy a dsiplaced spine.i had 8 hour op 2 discs removed and 2 plates 6 screws in lumber...worst mistake i made went to neuro centre and they gave me amytriptine 50 mg 3 daily and naproxen..which i had to live with but managed to do light work till 52 i stared getting pains in my thoracic went to doctor and he said u dont get it in thoracic it could be lungs so went for x rays i couldnt believe it every single disc was crushed and had bone spurs all through my spine they couldnt believe i was walking..my doctor gave me oxycontin o my god three days and i was puking everywhere doc sent me to hospital they couldnt believe i was walking either..wanted me to go in but i refused..i am now on paracetemol 8 a day etodalac 300 2 a day valium 5mg 3 day and have just started neurontin 40 at moment go doc tomorrow for increase in neurontin but dont find much help...you have to accept your ppain and try to do a little more than your body lets you then rest out of all my drugs i find etodolac and diazepam the best dont give up go to doc and ask for muscle reaxent but dont let him fob you off with robaxin ....keep going dont let it it defeat you.......remembe when though going gets tough the tough gets going ....chin up and look at the sun .........all the best to all john .......uk

[jen7web]

You may have solved your problem by now, but what about acupuncture?  I'd call andy rosenfarb http://www.acupuncturehealth.net/common.php and get his opinion, and he may refer someone.  he's highly reputable!

Good luck
jennifer

[antart]

Hi fresnoborn,
I am on a similar journey to the one that you were on 2 years ago. I don't know where you are now with your condition but Radio Frequency Ablation is a relatively new treatment for these conditions and it enables the patient to test the effectiveness of the treatment with anesthetic and steroids at the apparent site before the facet nerves are actually zapped. This is not a cure for the disc situation but I was also originally diagnosed with a disc problem (it was arguable but certainly not definitive from the MRI)  and the quacks were all over it trying to slice through me to get to my wallet. If it IS the facet nerve, it will be much easier and less invasive to treat. I hope you are long healed by now but, if not, check out the possibilities of that treatment.
good luck
ant

[trying to get my life back]

I MYSELF HAVE HAD 5 BACK SURGERIES L4- L5 SINCE 1985-  AND HAVE BONE SPURS AND ARTHURTIS IN MY NECK .  PAIN HAS JUST STARTDED WITH MY NECK. I  HAVE  BEEN ON MORAPHINE 20 MG. 2 TIME'S DAILY AND IT HAS ALWAY'S TAKEN THE PAIN RIGHT AWAY IN LOWER BACK AND LEG'S . BUT DOSN'T HELP MY NECK .  HAD MRI DONE ON NECK THAT IS WHEN THEY FOUND THE SPUR'S AND ARTHURITS.  NECK JUST HALF WAY  CANT LOWER MY CHIN TO MY  NECK OR IF I PUT HEAD BACK IT HURT'S TO.  I HAVE HAD EPADERAILS IN MY LOWER BACK 3 TIME'S LAST TIME  I HAD IT DONE , THE DOCTOR DIDN'T GET IT IN MY SPINE MY LEGS WERE PARILIZED WHEN I GOT OFF THE TABLE FELL ON THE FLOOR COULD FEEL NOTHING FROM THE NECK DOWN!!   I MYSELF WILL  NEAVER AGAIN HAVE THAT DONE.  I. WAS A MESS FOR A WHILE  STEROIDS AND NUMMING , MED. GOING ALL THOUGH ME  ALMOST WENT INTO CARDIAC ARREST BLEW A VAIN I GOT SO WOUND UP  IN RECOVERY FROM THAT.  SO PLEASE IF YOU R THINKING OF THE EPADERIAL  THINK TWICE. I WISH ALL OF YOU GOOD LUCK AND MY GOD BE WITH YOU THOUGH THE ROUGH TIME'S WHEN YOUR PAIN IS SO BAD .  I ALSO RUB ON ICEY HOT FROM THE DRUG STORE AND IT HELPS MY PAIN ALOT.  CANDACE

[rejoicin]

Your symptoms sound exactly like ones I have experienced! My muscles in my neck and lower back (stemming from my shoulder area) were SO tight that they were pulling the vertebrae in my neck out of alignment and causing HORRIBLE pain and inflammation and headaches. Even my eyes were hurting from the inflammation. They were puffy a lot, and it hurt something awful to move the eye muscles in any direction even a little bit, which is a weird thing (Didn't realize how often and easily my eyes moved until I tried NOT to move them). I am pain free at the moment after putting myself on a calcium supplement (and essential fatty acids and vitamin C for cell renewal). Chiropractic and massage and stuff help for a few minutes, but not any longer if your muscles and nerves are not getting enough nutrition. You mentioned you don't like dairy products. Bone spurs are a sign you're not getting enough calcium. They are actually caused from LACK of calcium (not an overabundance as the misinformed medicine of yesteryear -- and unfortunately even my GP of today -- would have you think). Most MDs receive so little training in nutrition that you'd have to see a nutritionist or naturopath to know that (and they'd have to have their thinking cap on that day to make sure they were not overlooking the obvious when you told them the symptoms). I tell you, the calcium supplements helped immensely.
Another thing that affects me is how much water I drink. If I drink less than 6 cups of water a day, I suffer from inflammation somewhere in my body (still to be diagnosed why, but whatever. Maybe my nutritional therapy will eventually fix it, or maybe somebody will eventually figure it out), especially in my sinuses (the naturopath told me that dehydration, even slight, can cause your body to produce histamine. I read that in an article as well, too long ago now to remember where I read it, but a search may find it.) If I drink 8 cups a day, I feel right as rain, no nasal "allergies", my eczema clears up, everything inflammatory improves.
Also, a radiologist can NOT know for certain if you have rheumatoid arthritis by looking at an xray. He/she can only see that inflammation is being caused from a systemic infection of some sort. Rhumatoid is the best guess of that particular radiologist probably due to past experience. Have they checked and rechecked for Lyme Disease just in case? My daugher had inflammation that moved around from joint to joint (she was 6 years old), and the xray said it was systemic. Went to a rhumatologist. Wasn't it. It was Lyme Disease. Thankfully, her blood work came back positive the first time so she didn't have to suffer with it for years.
I hope that one of my experiences will help you. It would be nice if they did.

[Bagano]

My daughter has a small bone on the edge of her scalp above her neck. It is very painful to the touch and has been causing her great pain. Has any one else ever had this or heard of some thing like this? Please let me know?

[judsped]

i have 7 disk 3 bulging and 4 herriiated and now a bone spir on c2 in my neck cant seem to get any one to do anything behind epidurals does any one have any suggestions

[Honeysuckelrose]

I am in NW New Mexico & to be honest honey the doctors iin te state aren't very well & iif i coould move I would!!! I livew in four corners area. I too live incoonstant pain & well for oe I almost fell over when I read they have you taking seriqil(sp?) that you should NOT take at ALL!!! I have bone spurs in my neck, back, hips, etc...
I think too they should give you swomething stronger & don't let tehm tell you they can't. I too am on Medicare/ Medicaid/Amerigroup. I also am allergic to most generics so have to take most brand names which they hate well I do too but I can't help it. I need a Thoracic epidural very bad but can't anymore because of a fill iin office manager while they were training the new oone screweed me over when i called to complain about the secretaries being rude to me & how I was tired oof beig in pain & had already had problems with the doc who use to do the thoracic epidurals bt told her:"But I am not calling about him as he has done better!" "I am calling about the girls & needed to let Dr. Muche my regular pain doctor know I had to be rushed to hospital because of my migraines". Yes dear my neck & back pain bring them on til i have to be taken by Ambulance to hospital. So point of story the woman twisted my words & told the man dooctor i was complaining aboout him when i wasn't so now i have to suffer, to the point I have been having my legs go numb again but now to poiint when i have triied to get up I have hit the floor. I wouldn't recommend ABQ health Partners!!! At least not oon Homestead Rd. I too have wanted to die from pain no wont do stupid but, have prayed and asked God to take me home or to please make oone of these dooctors who have a God compplex listen & help as I am noot looking foor drugs i just want to be able to live & not feel like a burden to anyone. i have lost friends when I lost my health. So you find oout who your true friends are & I guess at 46 i had none! and foor parent with child who has extra vertabrea i have not heard of that but, maybe try www.NUCCA.com this is only chiropractor ii can use as my bback iis so messed up now I can't use regular & iit helps migraines, my now scoliosis from my arthritis I now have from it being so severe & the bone spurs. it stands for National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association. Only reason I don't leave NM as he is only on in state & people come from heck even Phoenix AZ to see him. Their are other in other states not sure which ones off hand. and each doc works a little different, it looks different but it has kept me out of the hospital at times.
Hope this helps someone.
and I hope someone can help me find a doc who will take me & give me a Thoracic epidural oor all of them & I will just change pain doctor all together! Thanks a Million!!!
Sorry for typiing my laptop is so sensitive & also RA in hands & my back & right hip iis killing me.
xoxo
Pamela